Out of milk? In Modesto, robots can now deliver groceries right to your doorstep
While we may not have those promised flying cars yet, grocery delivering robots have arrived in Modesto.
Modesto-based Save Mart supermarkets has partnered with San Francisco firm Starship Technologies to bring autonomous, touchless grocery delivery to the Central Valley. You may have spied one of these small, dare I say cute robots rolling along Modesto streets in the past few weeks as part of a test of the new program.
Now the service has officially launched from the company’s flagship store on Oakdale Road and Sylvan Avenue. Save Mart is the first U.S. grocery chain to partner with Starship Technologies for the delivery service. And while it may seem like an idea straight out of “The Jetsons,” the squat cooler-sized robots on wheels are equipped with similar technology to self-driving cars.
“I’m just so excited we’re able to bring this service to Modesto. I’m so excited we’re able to do this right out of our flagship store in Modesto,” said Save Mart Companies CEO Nicole Pesco. “Ultimately we’re excited for what this means for our customers, especially today with contactless delivery, which is something people are even more interested in.”
Deliveries are currently available to those within an approximately two-mile radius from the north Modesto store. But Save Mart Public Affairs Manager Victoria Castro said they hope to expand that range in coming weeks, and in the future possibly offer delivery from its other stores in the region. In the next two to three months Starship hopes to expand to service 25,000 homes.
Ordering is simple. Customers can download the free Starship food delivery app on iOS or Android devices. Then they pick a drop-off location, and make their grocery selections. Next a Save Mart employee will shop their order, then pack and sanitize the robot, and off it goes to your house. You can track its progress online, and once it arrives use the app unlocks the contents, and finally the groceries can be retrieved and machine sent back to the store.
Save Mart Store Director Jerald Smith said during the soft launch they’ve been doing up to “a few dozen deliveries” a day, and have capacity to easily double or triple that. The store has about 20 of the robots, and deliveries are available during its regular hours. A launch party for the service brought out local dignitaries including Modesto Mayor Ted Brandvold, who shared his excitement.
“Today, what you can see here marks a first for Modesto and in the nation here,” Brandvold said. “All the things we’ve gone through and now we have robots coming to our city here. But it’s an amazing thing for our city.”
Don’t mess with the machines. You’ve been warned
Of course, as with any new and unusual technology, questions arise about how it works, how it knows where to go, and what happens if people mess with these little high-tech ice chests with wheels. Ryan Tuohy, senior vice president of business development for Starship, said while the robots operate on their own, the fleet is overseen by humans at all times. The robots come equipped with 10 cameras, and can talk with pre-recorder or live broadcasts in eight different languages.
“What happens initially is a lot of people will get in front of the robot, stop it and take a selfie,” Tuohy said. “You are welcome to do that, we understand. But please try to limit the time it takes because someone is waiting for that robot.”
If a robot detects human interference, it immediately pings a human remote operator who will take charge. A series of verbal warning messages will be delivered, which Tuohy said start very politely and become more demanding. And, if things get out of hand, each city where Starship operates has living, breathing representatives who can be dispatched to the robot’s location to provide hands-on help.
Recently Starship Technologies passed the 500,000 autonomous delivery milestone, and Tuohy bragged that they have never had one of the about 50-to-60-pound robots successfully stolen. So, you know, don’t go getting any ideas, Modesto.
Each little robot can carry about 20 pounds of food, or about three grocery bags full. They travel at a top speed of about 4 mph, which is roughly the same speed as a person walking normally. The machines can cautiously cross streets and intersections and navigate other obstacles. And their batteries can last 16 to 18 hours before needing to be recharged.
Grocery delivery robots have become social media stars
The little white robots have become local social media celebrities this month as people have spied them on test runs around the store. Tuohy said they’re also a hit on the app TikTok, where people have shared video of their often humorous encounters with the machines.
“Our guests are having a ball with it, and we’re getting a lot of calls from outside our area wanting it as well,” Smith said.
Smith also said while people worry that robots like this will replace human employees, his store has actually hired 5 to 10 more workers since it started to help staff the program. The service starts with $0.99 delivery fees, and Starship officials note that some grocery item prices may be higher and sales and other promotions are not applied on the final bill. So, yes, there is a premium to have what looks like the love child of Pixar’s WALL-E and EVE bring milk, eggs and bread to your house.
Save Mart already offers delivery through Instacart, a third-party app that uses human workers to shop and deliver groceries (and also offers curbside pickup). But they said this is another option for people seeking the least contact possible during these coronavirus times.
And, if nothing else, these robots have jokes. The machines are programmed for various polite interactions, and even humorous exchanges. The result:
“Why do robots have summer holidays? To recharge their batteries. Ha ha. Ha ha.”
Fine, that’s adorable. See, this is how they get you. Say hello to your new grocery delivering robot overlords, Modesto.
This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 5:58 PM.
